Donald Corenman MD DC | Spine Surgeon Colorado

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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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patrick01
Participant

November 1, 2017 at 11:05 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: Activities following 4 level ACDF #26738

Thank you Doctor, but what kind of Archer would I be if I couldn’t catch my own arrows?

patrick01
Participant

February 14, 2015 at 3:12 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: MRI results #12221

Thank you Dr. Corenman for taking the time to discuss my conditions. I have an appointment to visit your clinic in March to discuss this in person and hopefully come up with a satisfactory plan to address my pain.

Pat

patrick01
Participant

February 10, 2015 at 8:12 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: MRI results #12182

So if I understand you correctly Dr. Corenman because of the straightening of the spine a lamenoplasty or lamenectomy is out of the question with fusion or without?
Is the only reasonable option an ACDF to allow space for the chord and help with axial pain?

Patrick

patrick01
Participant

February 10, 2015 at 6:13 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: MRI results #12180

Thanks Dr.Corenman
I have lost confidence with the original Surgeon since visiting your sight. In both instances that I got a surgical recommendation from the Neurosurgeons practice, it was a PA that met with me. I have never met the Surgeon himself. This along with the use of Trabecular metal made me decide to keep looking for a qualified Doc.

Today I went to the UNM Nuero dept and spoke to the head of Nuero Surgery. His recommendation was different than three other Surgeons. This Doctor suggest a C3-C7 Laminoplasty with a C3-4 fusion. He says the C3-4 fusion is because of movement at that level.

I can understand the Laminoplasty would help with Myelopothy but I have alot of Axial neck pain as well. My ROM is not great as it is so would a Laminoplasty with fusion be helpful with the Axial pain?

This doctor has ordered new films for Neutral and Extension which I presume will tell him the extent of straightening of the Lordosis and determine if fusion would be necessary. Any thoughts??

patrick01
Participant

February 9, 2015 at 11:35 pm

Post count: 7

in reply to: MRI results #12175

I believe the spine is stable if i read this report correctly. The Surgeon suggested C3-4 as well because of a comparison to a 2012 MRI that has shown an apparent change to that level. He said it was best to take care of it now instead of going back in again in the future.
As far as the kyphosis goes I spoke to the Dr. about this and asked if it could be addressed at the time of the fusion to restore the normal Lordosis, he said that it wouldn’t be necessary. I told my wife that didn’t sound correct but I would get another opinion.
The Trebecular Metal was a new one for me as well! I had experiance with Iliac Crest graft for a prior fusion and had read about allograft but never Trebecular Metal.
I’m loosing confidence in my choice of a Surgeon so if you have any suggestions for a Dr. in Albuquerque area that would be great other wise I will make an appointment to visit your office.

Thanks

CERVICAL SPINE INCLUDING FLEXION/EXTENSION:
CLINICAL HISTORY: Cervical stenosis.
-CHNIQUE: X-rays of the cervical spine performed 01/12/15, there is a comparison MRI of the cervical spine report
from 12/23/14.
FINDINGS: There are moderately severe degenerative changes in the mid to lower cervical spine with multilevel
moderate disc space narrowings and anterior osteophytic spurring extending from C4 through T1 .
There are no compression fractures or prevertebral soft tissue swelling.
There is minimal fixed posterior subluxation of C3 upon C4, minimal fixed posterior subluxation of C4 upon C5 which are
likely degenerative disease related.
The C1-C2 relationship is normal.
There is mild reversal of the normal cervical lordosis.
The visualized lungs are normal.
IMPRESSION:
1. There are moderately severe multilevel degenerative changes at the mid to lower cervical spine with minimal subtle
posterior subluxations as detailed above.
2. Overall these findings are stable when compared to most recent MRI of the cervical spine from 12/23/14

patrick01
Participant

February 7, 2015 at 5:48 am

Post count: 7

in reply to: MRI results #12158

Hello Dr. Corenman
Please excuse the long post as this is my first time on your forum.

I have been treated by a pain specialist here in Albuquerque since 2006 with bilateral RF Ablasions, Epidural Steroid Injections, Cervical Medial branch Blocks and Intraarticular Facet Injections. This treatment was effective at first but the frequency of treatments has increased and the effectivness has decreased.

Current Medications are Hydrocodone 10-325, Metaxalone 800Mg, & Gabapinton 1800 Mg.

Physical therapy helped with ROM

I am post T11-T12 decompression with lamenectomy and Harrington Rods T9-L2 due to a motorcycle accident where I had a head on with a tree suffered a compression Fx.

This is the most recent MRI

INDICATION: 55 -year-old male with history of neck pain and cervical spondylolysis. Left upper extrerpity muscle
spasms with stabbing pain of the left scapula and electric sensation below the left chin extending to the left ear and scalp. Left arm perceived weakness, pain in neck when turn head left or lean head left. Constantly wake up at night due to discomfort.

~HNIQUE: Unenhanced MRI of the cervical spine.
I ..• DINGS: There is moderately severe multilevel degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine C3- 7 with multilevel
posterior bulging disc osteophyte complexes. No evidence of fracture or metastatic disease.
Cerebellar tonsils are normally located.
Multilevel acquired central canal stenosis without appreciable evidence of altered cord caliber or signal intensity on the
sagittal sequences.
C2-C3: Unremarkable.
C3-C4: Bulging disc osteophyte complex with bilateral uncovertebral hypertrophy. There is moderatel severe right and
mild left neuroforaminal narrowing present with right lateral recess effacement and mild superimposed acquired central
canal stenosis.
C4-C5: Bulging disc osteophyte complex with bilateral uncovertebral hypertrophy. Severe right and m~derately severe
left neuroforaminal narrowing greatest at the neuroforaminal entry zone. Mild to moderate superimposed acquired
central canal stenosis on the axial images.
C5-C6: Bulging disc osteophyte complex with bilateral uncovertebral hypertrophy. Moderately severe ilateral
neuroforaminal stenosis, right greater than left. Mild superimposed acquired central canal stenosis.
C6-C7: Eccentrically bulging disc osteophyte complex toward the left, with left lateral recess narrowin . Left greater
than right neuroforaminal entry zone narrowing. Mild superimposed acquired central canal stenosis.
C7-T1: Mild diffuse disc bulging. Mild bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing. No significant central canal tenosis.
IMPRESSION:
1. Multilevel degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with multilevel acquired central canal stenosis and
neuroforaminal stenosis. Significant bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis is present. This is worse at the 4-C5 level
followed by the C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels.

My question is my Nuerosurgeon is suggesting a 4 level ACDF C3-C7 using Trabecular metal for the graft. Does this oppinion sound reasonable to you and also what is your oppinion of Trabecular metal?

Thank you Dr. Corenman
Patrick
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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

Donald Corenman, MD, DC

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81 reviews

Eric S

Sep 26, 2021

by Eric S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Successful pars repair at 46 years old

Back in November of 2018 (at 46 years old) I came from Vancouver BC to have a pars repair done with Dr. Donald Corenman at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado. I'm finally posting this review nearly three years later in late 2021. The reason I waited so long was I wanted to know the final result before I posted my review. Unfortunately in that time Dr. Corenman has retired. Nevertheless, I want to post this review of Dr. Corenman and his staff at the Steadman Clinic in their excellent treatment of my L5 pars interarticularis.

I fractured my pars at age 42 back in 2014 when rolling on the gym floor, and was denied treatment by the Canadian healthcare system, probably due to my age. First my GP told me there was no surgical option for a pars defect, which was quite incorrect! I tried to live with it, but the symptoms worsened (periodic random spine slippage and weeks of resultant pain after just bending over to tie my shoe, so I eventually learned to mostly squat and hardly bend). When I finally consulted with Canadian spine surgeons, I was told they believed my pars defect had been congenital (since birth). This was absurd, considering I had done extreme martial arts (including jiu jitsu) for years prior, as well as 5 years of reinforcing steel full time in my 20s, probably the hardest job on the back you can find. No pars defect like mine would possibly have allowed this--ergo it was impossible that I had had the defect since birth. I did however have an asymptomatic congenital spina bifida occulta that made me more susceptible to a pars fracture. In 2014 in one instant, I went from having the strongest back people I knew said they'd ever seen, to being unable to safely bend over and tie my shoe without a non-negligible risk of my spine slipping randomly (which would lead to weeks of pain after each occurrence). This was due to the unilateral L5 pars defect, otherwise known as spondylolysis. It was when lying in pain on the floor 4 years later after maybe the 6th spine slippage event post injury, that I had had enough, and resolved to have surgery. If Canada's "universal health care" said no, I would make lemonade from lemons, and find the very best surgeon in the world at pars repairs. That was Dr. Donald Corenman. Dr. Corenman back in 2018 ran a website https://neckandback.com/ that dedicated many pages to the science of every aspect of pars repairs, from eligibility (good discs on MRI), to best surgical techniques (minimal open compared to minimally invasive), best imaging to use (i.e., O-Arm with Stealth imaging vs. older fluoroscopy), the ideal amount of BMP to use and why not use too much or too little, and much more, all to do with pars repairs, pages upon pages of his site just on the pars, with scientific references and his own extensive expert opinion. As a health research statistician, I was very impressed with this. It was in stark contrast to the websites of other spine surgeons which barely gave the pars a word or two, focusing almost exclusively on fusions. I had found the best surgeon in the world for pars repairs, and so after Dr. Corenman personally screened my MRI to ensure my discs were healthy, I booked the surgery.

Being 46 years old at the time of surgery in 2018, with a 4-year-old pars fracture from 2014 combined with a congenital SBO meant my pars fragment was somewhat atrophied, but it was "very solid", said Dr. Corenman in the operative report. Nevertheless, it was challenging with two things to fix, the pars and SBO, and OR time was around 4 hours. Recovery over the following months was guided by a very clear "Spine binder" from the Steadman Clinic with strict rules of "no BLT" (no bending, lifting or twisting), and illustrated physiotherapy guidelines. They even warned patients to avoid fish oil supplements, which could excessively dampen inflammation and hence slow bone healing. They answered many questions I had during months of recovery, with responses coming from the very supportive Lori Fugate (then director of Dr. Corenman's practice), and Ehrich Bean (then physician's assistant at the practice), as well as a couple calls with Dr. Corenman himself after two of the CT scans. Ehrich Bean offered great advice for taking the spine binder conservatively due to the nature of pars repairs vs. fusions. The final post-op CT scan I had was a couple weeks ago at 34 months post-op, and Dr. Corenman had retired, but I got a very positive and informative call from Eric Strauch (current PA at the Steadman Clinic under Dr. Corenman's replacement there, and who had also worked with Dr. Corenman previously). The staff at the Steadman Clinic were extremely supportive all the way through the process. I should mention, the local Canadian spine surgeon did offer me very good post-operative support including antibiotics as needed to deal with a mild surface incision-site infection early on, booking numerous x-rays when I felt something was amiss, as well as booking all four of my post-op CT scans. I am very grateful for that support also.

My final result shows plenty of solid bone across the pars and a healed SBO, with my vertebral body now a solid bone ring instead of being broken at two places as it was pre-op. Does my spine hold up in the real world? You bet! I have recently dug and moved several yards of dirt and sand and gravel by myself (shovel and wheelbarrow!) to fix our water main, pulled roots from the yard, moved several "portable" (these are HUGE) air conditioners up several flights of stairs my myself, and lifted weights. I now run 2 miles (3.2 KM) several times weekly with a hard 100 meter dash in the middle. I bend deeply before each run I go on, with no spine slippage. My spine feels amazing. I can bend over to do exercise, or real word tasks, with no risk of spine slippage.

My sincere thanks to God, Dr. Donald Corenman, Lori Fugate, Ehrich Bean, Eric Strauch, and the Steadman Clinic, as well as the Canadian spine surgeon who offered me excellent post-operative care back in Canada. You have all given me a new lease on life.

Sincerely,
Eric S

Robert S

May 11, 2021

by Robert S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Back Fusion Surgery

I had my entire lumbar spine fused in November of 2018. I had scoliosis , with pinched nerves that were so painful I could hardly walk - and standing for more than a few minutes was impossible. Even sitting was painful.
The fusion surgery produced immediate relief! And the recovery was much easier than I expected.
To this day I can do all the activities I love from hiking, to standing in a stream fly fishing to riding my bike long distances - or just walking down the street with my wife.
Kudos to Dr. Corenman and his staff, (including the two Erics) for taking such good care of me!

Leslie R

Jul 9, 2020

by Leslie R on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

TLIF

I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic.

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patrick01

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